Litigation


Warning: OCR HIPAA Audits Reveal Widespread Noncompliance
December 23, 2020 | Eric D. Fader | Electronic Health Records | HIPAA | Legislation and Public Policy | Litigation | Private Insurers

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights (OCR) recently released an audit report on HIPAA compliance by 166 covered entities and 41 business associates during 2016-2017. The audits included detailed on-site reviews of entities’ documentation and implementation of HIPAA rules. The release of the report may foreshadow increased enforcement activities

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Home Health Agency Settles Kickback/Stark Allegations
November 30, 2020 | Eric D. Fader | False Claims Act | Fraud and Abuse | Home Health | Litigation | Medicare and Medicaid

The U.S. Department of Justice announced on November 20 that Doctor’s Choice Home Care, Inc. agreed to pay $3,856,000 to resolve allegations that the agency paid illegal kickbacks to physicians for referring patients. The agency will pay an additional $675,000 to resolve separate allegations that its employees pressured clinical personnel to increase the number of

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What to Do When Malpractice Allegations Become Defamation
November 24, 2020 | Rivkin Rounds Staff | Litigation

A recent article in Healthcare Risk Management, “What to Do When Malpractice Allegations Become Defamation,” discussed the different types of defamation, including unfounded statements posted online by patients. Rivkin Radler’s David Richman was quoted extensively in the article.

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OIG Issues Special Fraud Alert on Speaker Programs
November 20, 2020 | Eric D. Fader | Fraud and Abuse | Legislation and Public Policy | Litigation | Medical Devices and Wearables | Medicare and Medicaid | Pharmaceuticals

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued a Special Fraud Alert on November 16, warning that speaker programs organized by pharmaceutical and medical device companies pose inherent fraud and abuse risks. OIG is “skeptical about the educational value of such programs” and cautioned that remuneration to referring practitioners

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Best Practices for Virtual Court Hearings in Hospitals
November 18, 2020 | Frank P. Izzo | COVID-19 | Hospitals | Litigation

The COVID-19 pandemic has had another, less-discussed effect on hospitals. Hearings that traditionally take place in hospitals – such as guardianships, retention, medication over objection, or assisted outpatient hearings – have shifted to a virtual platform.

Below are some considerations for hospital personnel participating in virtual hearings.

(1) Familiarize yourself with the technology

Due to

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Medtronic Settles Kickback and Open Payments Violations for $9.2M
November 13, 2020 | Eric D. Fader | Affordable Care Act | False Claims Act | Fraud and Abuse | Litigation | Medical Devices and Wearables | Medicare and Medicaid

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on October 29 that Medtronic USA Inc. agreed to pay $8.1 million to settle allegations that it violated the False Claims Act (FCA) and federal Anti-Kickback Statute by paying kickbacks to a South Dakota neurosurgeon to use Medtronic’s medical devices. Medtronic will pay an additional $1.11 million for

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New Haven Settles HIPAA Breach for $202K
November 11, 2020 | Eric D. Fader | Electronic Health Records | HIPAA | Litigation

The city of New Haven, Connecticut recently agreed to pay $202,400 to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights (OCR) to settle multiple HIPAA violations in connection with a 2016 incident at the city’s public health clinic. OCR announced the settlement on October 30.

In January 2017, the New Haven

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NY Spine Settles HIPAA Right of Access Violation for $100K
October 27, 2020 | Eric D. Fader | Electronic Health Records | HIPAA | Legislation and Public Policy | Litigation

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights’ HIPAA Right of Access Initiative has claimed another victim. HHS announced on October 9 that NY Spine Medicine, a private neurology and pain management practice with offices in Manhattan and Miami Beach, agreed to pay a $100,000 penalty for failing to provide patients

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$50 Million Stark Settlement Shows Risk of Violation, Whistleblowers
October 21, 2020 | Rivkin Rounds Staff | False Claims Act | Fraud and Abuse | Hospitals | Litigation | Medicare and Medicaid

An article in the November issue of Healthcare Risk Management, “$50 Million Stark Settlement Shows Risk of Violation, Whistleblowers,” discussed Wheeling Hospital’s $50 million settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) that resolved a whistleblower complaint filed in 2017 by a former executive of the hospital. Rivkin Radler’s Jeff Kaiser was quoted in the

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Tips for Buying the Right Malpractice Coverage
October 13, 2020 | Rivkin Rounds Staff | Litigation | Private Insurers

An October 9 article in Medical Economics, “Tips for buying the right malpractice coverage,” discussed factors physicians should consider when choosing a malpractice insurance policy. Rivkin Radler’s Chris Kutner was quoted in the article.

Chris suggested that physicians compare policies from both commercial carriers and risk retention groups, which are liability insurance companies owned by

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